ONLINE Deepening Series: Exodus  (ENGLISH)

In our western world, who has not heard of the 10 commandments, the 10 plagues or the passage of the Red Sea? Undoubtedly the book of Exodus is one of the most representative, if not the most, of the biblical tradition, shaping both the faith and culture of our societies.

The influence and impact of the story of the liberation of slaves was so important for the people of ancient Israel that it is widely referred to in their literature.

We find quotations of this text in the earlier(Joshua-Kings) and later (Is, Jer, Ez) prophets, as well as in the Writings, the Sapiential books, and even the so-called apocryphal texts, a product of the Greek era. The Christian tradition did not lag behind, and the Exodus became the framework for the interpretation of Jesus' movement portrayed in the Gospels.

Jesus' movement portrayed in the Gospels, being also evoked in the book of Revelation.

The most important feasts of the three monotheistic religions - Passover, Easter, and Ramadan - are based on this tradition, one that has even influenced literature, film and television in the last century. The book has not also been exempt from widespread contention, particularly from scientists,who have questioned the miraculous stories, while religious sectors have been couraged its reading, posing as absolute truths the supernatural scenes of divine intervention.

Finally, many groups throughout history have found in the Exodus the representation of their longing for freedom.

Exodus as a representation of their yearning for freedom, so the figure of Moses has become a reference point for the struggles against slavery, oppression, and domination in different continents.

This course provides a general introduction to the book. Starting from the postulates of the document Dei Verbum and the charism of the Congregation of Sion, the formative process will invite us to reflect on the historical and social genesis of the book of Exodus, its theological and literary content, and the ways in which it has been interpreted throughout history and the forms in which it is used.

Finally, we will discuss the implications and opportunities of the book for a Christianity that encourages the construction of just and dignified societies.

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